Ben Affleck Says He’s Up For Directing The New Batman Film

When Warner Bros. originally announced their ambitious movie line-up based on DC superheroes a new Batman film was suspiciously absent from the schedule. The character is introduced in next year’s ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and will appear in following films including the two part Justice League films and ‘Suicide Squad.’ Given Batman’s popularity, a stand-alone movie seems like a no brainer. There was speculation that the new Batman stand-alone was on hold until a story and director was decided and early reports suggested that the actor playing Batman, Ben Affleck, was interested in taking on the role of director. Now we are learning that those reports were true.

Affleck spoke to Total Film to confirm that directing the next Batman is a possibility.

“If I could make it work, yeah. Obviously that would be like a dream. The trick is, as to any movie, is to make sure that you – if you’re going to direct it – that you can make it good. You’ve got to have the right idea and the right take on it… Broadly speaking, it’s something I’d be open to, for sure. It’s a very exciting idea.”

Charles Roven, the producer for ‘Man of Steel,’ ‘Batman v. Superman,’ and Nolan’s ‘Dark Knight Trilogy,’ adds that Affleck directing depends both on his attraction to the potential story and on the actor/director’s busy schedule:

“He’s about to start a movie now, and he’s also got obligations to be in the Justice League movies. The calendar is a little bit tricky. Of course, the script obviously has to be worthy of him wanting to direct it. And once that happens, it’s still got to fit into the calendar. We’re hoping we can make it happen. We’re just at the beginning of the question.”

The movie Affleck is starting is one that he’s had in the works since his Academy Award winning ‘Argo’, a crime drama called ‘Live by Night.’ Even if Affleck and Warner Bros. both want him to direct the next Batman film, it is understandable that time will be the deciding factor. There is a schedule to meet and the guy with his own projects and a list of bat-suit-clad on-screen appearances is in demand.

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